A few members had been living at different places in the fertile Long Green Valley for many years before there was any preaching by the Church of the Brethren in that territory. One day J. M. Prigel and wife, accompanied by Charles P. Bonsack, were visiting a Sister Haines who had been living in the Valley some years, isolated from her church. At the earnest plea of Sister Haines and J. M. Prigel, Charles D. Bonsack agreed to hold a revival in that community if a place of worship could be found. Services were arranged in the Mennonite church and five persons applied for membership. The first converts were Ida and Lillie Noffsingcr, Emma Newhauser, and John Breidenbaugh and wife. The organized effort by theBrethren in Long Green Valley began May 1, 1900.

     J.M. Prigel and wife had already been baptized and sometimes worshiped at Woodberry in Baltimore. Services continued to be held in the Mennonite church until the fall of 1906, when a revival was held by Abram P. Snader. Some objections were raised when the evangelist preached doctrinal sermons and it became necessary to hold services elsewhere , after the meeting closed. Regular preaching appointments were held in the home of J. M. Prigel until the church was erected in 1908. A Sunday- school which grew rapidaly was started in 1906. No congregation was organized until 1910, when the Mission Board of Eastern Maryland was invited to hold a council meeting in the new church built in 1908 and take the voice of the membership whether a congregation should be organized. The Mission Board sent George Sappington, A. P. Snader, Tobias Fike, William E. Roop and John A. Smith to hold the council. It was decided by the majority vote to organize a new congregation to be known as Long Green Valley.

     A petition had been presented by the members living in Long Green Valley to the District Meeting held at Monocacy in April, 1908, asking that funds be raised to help build the meetinghouse. Samuel Utz of New Market was authorized to solicit money for the new church. The funds were soon raised and a lot was purchased from S. M. Rankin who gave some lumber for the framework of the church. The new building was dedicated October 25, 1908, with a total membership of thirty.

     The first trustees were Moses Noffsinger, J. M. Prigel and J. C. Breidenbaugh. When the congregation was organized A. P. Snader was elected elder in charge with C. P. Breidenbaugh clerk and Joseph Southard treasurer. There was no resident minister until the election of J. M. Prigel, October 7, 1911, at which time he was called to the ministry and ordained to the eldership soon thereafter.

     The success of the work in Long Green Valley has been due in large measure to the faithful efforts of Jesse P. Weybright who took great interest in that work under the Mission Board, and to the untiring labors of J. M. Prigel and his devoted companion. They organized carefully and directed the work wisely. The membership has grown from a small group to nearly one hundred with a group of young people who are serving the church faithfully.

     Groups of members lived also at two points in Harford County. Mission points were opened at Belair and Darlington, where the work was continued for several years. The members living at these points were mostly day laborers who soon changed places of residence and the work was closed up. The remarkable mission work of James Quinlan at different points in Long Green Valley has had but little connection with the District Board but it deserves a word of explanation.

     James Quinlan was a Catholic boy who was picked up by Dr. Jelly of the old New Windsor College and given a position building fires and sweeping the halls. James came under the influence of the Brethren at Pipe Creek who took great interest in him. He later united with church. After returning to Baltimore he opened several independent missions for boys. One of these mission points was conducted along Green Valley by James Quinlan for the poor in that section. His work created quite a sensation and attracted the attention of some millionaires living in the Valley who furnished much of the money for the Quinlan Mission.

     What direct effect the James Quinlan work has had on the congregation in Long Green Valley would be hard to evaluate but it may be said that the high esteem with which the Church of the Brethren has been held in the Valley has been due in part to the Quinlan missions, and the noble life of J.M. Prigel and his faithful workers.

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